UNIT 01

Values are individual beliefs and principles that motivate people to act one way or another.
Values reflect one’s personal attitudes and judgments, decisions and choice, behaviour
and relationships, dreams and vision. They influence our thoughts, feelings and actions.
Values are like the rails that keep a train on the track and help it move smoothly, quickly and
with direction. They bring quality to life.

Basics of human values:

Compassion (Kindness, dayalu, help) Trust Responsibility Loyalty (vafadari)

Respect Integrity (ekta) Forgiveness Love Equality Cooperation

Honesty Peace Self direction Justice

Sources of Human Values:

Culture (beliefs, rituals, customs, values, practices that a group of people share)

Religion Personal experience Family Education Society

Nationality Philosophy

Classification of Values

 Biological (Everything that is desired is desirable) (Physical survival and growth)

 Intrinsic (Intrinsic values are reflected in Idealism) (Truth, beauty, Courage)
 Instrumental (The principle of utility is guiding factor) (Money, Food, Health)

Types of Values

 Aesthetic (Beauty)
 Personal
 Social
 Moral
 Spiritual
 Behavioural
 Material
Traditional Indian Values

Truth Beauty Goodness Spirituality

Simplicity Tolerance Pursuit of truth Non-Violence

HUMAN VALUES

Human values can be understood as the values that have been conceived and preferred by the
people in a society that has inspired their actual conduct and behaviour and prepared them to
attain the best in their lives. Human values involve the process of selection, preference and
acceptance of certain values for life.

Human values are the goodness that guides us to take into account the human element when
we interact with other human beings. Human values are respect, acceptance, consideration,
appreciation, listening, openness, affection, empathy and love towards other human beings.
They are the values that permit us to live together in harmony, and personally contribute to
peace. It is a tool to manage human relations and peace when the tension is high.

The nucleus of society’s advancement has been the ever progressing and evolving thoughts and
ideals of people. Human values, in this regard too have evolved through time and remains to
do so as per the changing social and cultural environment of a society. The complication
emerges when people of a society are subjected to different types of social environments and
hence, their values tend to shape differently. Individually, values can be different but on a
collective level, the common qualities can be seen as the social glue, which binds them together
in a society. These values that people hold to be significant and desirable are referred to as
human values. These human values are embedded deeply and influence attitudes, conclusions,
and actions of people. They represent the things that are valued, significant, and worthwhile in
life, including truthfulness, integrity, respect, compassion, freedom and justice. They serve as
a basis for moral decision-making and help people decide what they believe to be right or bad
in light of their own personal or cultural convictions.

Tracing the origin of human values can be a complex process, as these values have multiple
sources of origin. Human values have always aimed to be constructive in nature, which in turn
could provide a sense of balance and collective engagement within a society. It is important to
state that human values have evolved over a very long period. Humans have created and
recreated them based on their social and cultural surroundings such as:

● Influences from Culture and Society: Culture has a big impact on how people value things.
The socialization processes that take place in families, communities, educational institutions,
and larger cultural contexts frequently result in the transmission of values. Specific values
within a culture can arise and are reinforced through cultural norms, traditions, and practices.

● Family and Upbringing: The formation of human values is significantly influenced by

family dynamics and upbringing. An individual’s value system is greatly influenced by the
values they are taught by their parents or other key caregivers, as well as by the family’s
cultural, religious, or ideological backgrounds.
● Formal Institutions and Education: Education, both formal and Universal Human Values
informal, is a key factor in determining values. Values can be taught at educational institutions
through their curricula, instructional strategies, and extracurricular activities. The development
of people’s value systems can be influenced by the values that are promoted in educational
systems and institutions.

● Personal Experiences and Interactions: Human values can be shaped and altered through
personal experiences, such as social interactions and exposure to various viewpoints. Events
can have a positive or negative impact on a person’s values by causing them to reflect and
revaluate their views and priorities. Examples of such events include personal successes,
hardships, or experiencing injustice.

● Media and Popular Culture: By promoting popular ideas, customs, and lifestyles, media,
including television, films, books, and social media, can shape values. A person’s exposure to
new ideas, challenges to their held beliefs, or reinforcement of society values can all be
influenced by the media.

● Religion and Spirituality: For many people, religion and spiritual beliefs play a crucial role
in forming the core of their human values. A framework for moral principles, ethical precepts
and value systems that affect believers’ behaviours and decision-making is frequently provided
by religious teachings and scriptures.

● Evolutionary and Biological Factors: According to some academics, some values may
have evolved because they promote social cohesiveness and cooperation. A person’s
propensity for specific values or moral judgments may also be influenced to some extent by
biological variables like genetics and brain shape.

Human values as a concept can be interpreted from different individual perspectives as it has
multiple nodes of origin. For instance, in the case of India, the very notion of human values
can be understood from four “purusartha” which identify ‘Artha’, ‘Kama’, ‘Dharma’ and
‘Moksha’ as fundamental human values. These values have been defined among others by
Kautilya and Vatsayana. According to these scholars, ‘Artha’ has been interpreted as the
value of existence and maintenance of human life. It emphasizes on material gain and physical
well-being. ‘Kama’ has been defined as the pleasure resulting from satisfaction of desires. The
sensuous desires have been interpreted in the form of gratification which is necessary for
human well-being. ‘Dharma’ has been interpreted as the law or principles of integration and
maintenance of things. Lastly, ‘Mokhsa’ reflects the supreme goal of human life which is
liberation or salvation from the effects of ‘Karma’. Similarly, from Buddhist perspectives
human values have been defined based on four eternal truths. These truths have been identified
as ‘Shashwat Satya’. The truths are as under:

a) Life is not devoid of sorrows, suffering and anguish, etc.

b) The anguish and suffering have a cause.

c) The suffering that an individual faces can be put to an end.

d) There are many ways and means through which pain and suffering can be overcome in life.

Buddhism in this regard has also elaborated that if a person is unable to define the real vs
unreal due to ignorance, then that person is bound to suffer. As a result, the ultimate goal of
the individual is to make himself or herself self-aware about his or her surroundings that can
help him or her to achieve true knowledge for liberation.

Buddhism has recommended the eight-fold path that can help an individual to lead a balanced
life and wellbeing. These are as under:

a) Right Perception (Samyak Drishti).

b) Right Determination (Samyak Samkalpa).

c) Right Speech (Samyak Vaka).

d) Right Conduct (Samyak Karma).

e) Right Vocation (Samyak Ajivika).

f) Right Exercise (Samyak Vijayama).

g) Right Memory (Samyak Smriti).

h) Right Meditation (Samyak Samadhi).

Human values ultimately take a universal shape if they are similar in practice among different
cultures throughout the world. The meaning behind each value is uniform and universally
accepted across different social and cultural spaces. Some of the human values which have
gained a universal acceptance are:

1. Un-Biasness 2. Loyalty 3. Cooperation 4. Transparency 5. Objectivity

6. Discipline 7. Inspiration 8. Social Responsibility 9. Managing Conflict

The presence of universal human values in any organization or a society can help in enhancing
the credibility among the stakeholders, facilitating decision-making choices in a rational way,
promoting self-discipline, encouraging objectivity in life and most importantly ensuring trust
and balance among the individuals in a larger setup.

One of the stark differences that can be seen between individual and universal human values
can be that individual human values are directly concerned with the development of human
personality. It focuses on reshaping the individual’s norms and outlook towards honesty,
loyalty and honour. On the other hand, universal human values are those which have a greater
social and cultural acceptance, and these values are oriented towards human growth and
development. Despite the difference between the two, universal human values take shape only
when individual human values gradually take shape into a collective and gain a mass
acceptance from different socio-cultural spaces of society.

INFLUENCE OF HUMAN VALUES ON DAILY LIFE

It is important to point out that our daily decision-making processes are greatly influenced by
human values. They have an impact on the decisions we take, the steps we take, and the
behaviour we display in different spheres of life. Human values have the following effects on
our decision-making process:

1. Prioritization: By identifying which possibilities are consistent with our values, human
values enable us to prioritize what is important in our lives and directs our decision-making
accordingly. For instance, if we value honesty, we are more likely to incorporate it in our lives
when interacting with others and making decisions, even if it is more challenging or
uncomfortable for us.

2. Ethics: Human values act as a moral compass for us, helping us to discriminate between
right and wrong. They aid in our analysis of the ethical consequences of our choices and deeds.
Fairness, integrity, and compassion are examples of values that can help us make morally right
judgments by motivating us to think about how our actions will affect other people.

3. Setting Objectives: Our personal goals are influenced by our values. They influence our
desires and define what we regard as important and satisfying. The course we take in life and
the goals we choose for ourselves are determined by our values. For instance, if we place a
high value on personal development, we might make seeking educational or professional
development opportunities our top priority.
4. Relationships and Interactions: Our relationships and social interactions are influenced by
our values. They help us make decisions about our friendships, partnerships, and team projects.
Trust, respect, and empathy are values that affect how we treat people and the kinds of
interactions we strive to build.

5. Personal Well-Being: Our general happiness and well-being are influenced by human
values. We feel genuine, content, and peaceful when we make choices that are consistent with
our core beliefs. Internal turmoil, remorse, and discontent can result from disregarding or acting
contrary to our ideals.

6. Long-Term Effects: Values encourage us to think about the long-term effects of our
choices. They encourage us to contemplate the bigger picture of how our decisions affect us,
those around us, and the planet beyond the immediate gains or short-term benefits. For instance,
if we prioritize conservation and lessen our ecological footprint, we may make decisions that
reflect this goal.

7. Self-Reflection and Self-Awareness: Reflecting on oneself and being aware of oneself are
encouraged by values. We can better understand our motives, beliefs, and desires by looking
at our values. Because of our increased self-awareness, we can make choices that are in line
with who we truly are and advance our personal development.

PILLARS OF HUMAN VALUES

It is important to note that human values have certain fundamentals which are necessary for
any society to exist in a state of balance. These fundamentals are as under:

a) Truth

b) Love

c) Peace

d) Non-Violence

e) Right Conduct.

These fundamentals are not only interrelated but also inherent in human beings which define
their human-like qualities. These fundamentals can be seen important for human values
because they are in line with the human beings and give rise to many other related values in
different social and cultural spaces. As a result, understanding human values without these
fundamentals may provide a distorted or a narrow outlook to how human values help in
promoting a state of balance within a society. In the case of ‘Truth’, it is an important
fundamental which dictates our conscience. It is relative and keeps changing according value,
to circumstances. It provides a sense of integrity in life and therefore is a very important human
value. ‘Love’ can be understood as a spontaneous feeling which is affected by the sub-
conscious mind. It is different from emotion. It helps in ensuring that one person is sensitive to
the sense of happiness and well-being of the other. It is a value which binds people and allows
them to exist as a collective unit. ‘Peace’, on the other hand, projects a state of mind which is
indifferent towards the superfluous desires and needs or the urge to acquire resources in vast
proportions. Peace denotes the willpower of the individual in Universal Human Values
disconnecting himself from the superficial elements of society and lead a life of freedom and
balance. ‘Non-violence’ reflects the tendency of an individual in acquiring something without
the need for conflict or violating anything. It can be considered as one of the highest
achievements of humans living in a state of harmony. Non-violence, however, also requires
love in order to ensure that the actions of an individual do not violate anything and there is a
state of balance. ‘Right conduct’, on the other hand, focuses on the actions of the individual
and to what degree it is not biased, based on conscious decision making that is rational and fair.
This is another important fundamental of human values that encourages collective engagement
of people in a society. Thus, what can be seen in regard to human values is that these
fundamentals are the core which shape human values and also redefine to be universally
accepted across the globe. Since these fundamentals are interlinked, the existence of one also
influences the existence of other, which in turn defines the human values in absolute.

Factors of Human Values

 Assertiveness It is the ability to honestly express your opinions, feelings, attitudes and
rights, without undue anxiety. This behaviour earns the individual respect from others,
while the others treat him with love as he is a man of self-respect.
 Self-Monitoring Individuals high in self-monitoring shoe adaptability in adjusting
their behaviour to external, situational factors. They are highly sensitive to external cues
and behave differently in different situation.

RELEVANCE OF HUMAN VALUES

The ability of humans to comprehend the environment and adapt to the changes, whether it be
physical or mental is astonishing. Humans have been undergoing different degrees of
difficulties and have also overcome them with great efficiency. It has also become a part of
people’s consciousness that their challenges cannot be addressed while ignoring human values.
These values have become the guiding force which encourage people to consider each other’s
values and treat each other with equal respect and dignity. Human identity is fundamentally
defined and shaped by human ideals. They affect people’s thoughts, beliefs, behaviours, and
relations, adding to our understanding of what it is to be human. Here is how having human
values makes one more human:

● Reflection on Past Experience: Our feeling of purpose, meaning, and what we regard as
significant in life are all closely related to human values. They are a reflection of our ideas of
what is just, moral, and true. Values compel people to consider their motives, behaviour, and
effects on both themselves and other people. One thing that sets humans apart from other
creatures is the capacity for reflection.

● Making Moral Decisions: Human values serve as a moral compass that directs people in
coming to ethical conclusions. Our perceptions of right and wrong are influenced by values
like honesty, compassion, justice, and integrity, which also shape our behaviours and actions.
One of the most important aspects of being human is having the ability to make moral
decisions.

● Shaping Interactions: Human values shape our interactions with others and how we traverse
our social environment, which in turn shapes our behaviour and relationships. Harmonious
relationships, empathy, and a sense of community are fostered through values like respect,
empathy, and cooperation. Our behaviour and how we treat others is governed by our values,
which nurture traits that are crucial for human social relationships.

● Personal Growth: Personal growth is hugely influenced by human values. Individuals are
motivated to learn new things, acquire new talents, and improve themselves by values like
learning, curiosity, and self-improvement. Values give inspiration and guidance for self-
reflection, experience-based learning, and the pursuit of personal excellence.

● Identity: Human values are intricately entwined with our sense of identity, which is
expressed as individual identity. They showcase our distinctive viewpoints, convictions, and
goals. Values enable people to express their uniqueness and make decisions that are consistent
with who they truly are. The richness and complexity of the human identity are enriched by the
diversity of values among individuals.
● Well-being: Human values are frequently linked to happiness and the desire for a happy life.
Compassion, kindness, and altruism are virtues that benefit both the self and others. People can
foster happy feelings, create lasting relationships, and improve their communities by upholding
these ideals. Thus, human values are relevant for human life, as they help in shaping an
understanding about how people can identify what basic human values mean and how can they
be incorporated in their day-to-day practices for positive well-being.

UNIVERSAL HUMAN VALUE

Universal human values are ethical principles that are shared by people across cultures,
religions, and geographical boundaries. They are the foundation for human behaviour and
promote cooperation, empathy, and harmony.

Characteristics of Universal Human Values

Universal: Apply to all people, at all times, and in all places
Rational: Based on reasoning, not dogmas or blind beliefs

Natural: Acceptable to humans and can be fulfilled through nature

Encompassing: Cover all aspects of human life, including thought, behaviour, work, and
understanding

Promotes harmony: Lead to harmony within individuals, among people, and with nature

Examples: Love, Truth, Right conduct, Peace, Non-violence, Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion.

Value Education
Value education means inculcating in the children a sense of humanism, a deep concern for
the well-being of others and the nation.
Value education refers to the process of imparting and nurturing core ethical values and
principles in individuals. It goes beyond academic knowledge and focuses on developing a
person's character, moral compass, and overall well-being. Value education aims to promote
virtues such as honesty, respect, responsibility, empathy, compassion, integrity, and tolerance.

The primary goal of value education is to help individuals become responsible citizens who
make positive contributions to society. It equips them with the necessary skills and attitudes to
navigate life's challenges, make ethical decisions, and interact harmoniously with others. Value
education encourages individuals to critically reflect on their actions and consider the
consequences of their choices on themselves, others, and the world around them.

Key aspects of value education

1. Moral and Ethical Development: Value education helps individuals understand the
difference between right and wrong, and it fosters the development of a strong moral and ethical
foundation. It encourages individuals to act in accordance with principles that promote fairness,
justice, and integrity.

2. Social and Emotional Learning: Value education emphasizes the importance of social and
emotional skills, such as empathy, communication, cooperation, and conflict resolution. It
helps individuals develop healthy relationships, manage their emotions effectively, and
understand the perspectives of others.

3. Citizenship and Civic Responsibility: Value education promotes active citizenship and
encourages individuals to be responsible and engaged members of society. It cultivates a sense
of social responsibility, environmental awareness, and the willingness to contribute positively
to the community.

4. Critical Thinking and Decision Making: Value education enhances individuals' critical
thinking skills, enabling them to analyze situations, evaluate options, and make informed
decisions. It encourages independent thinking, ethical reasoning, and the ability to weigh the
consequences of one's actions.

5. Respect for Diversity: Value education fosters an appreciation for diversity and inclusivity.
It promotes respect for people of different backgrounds, cultures, religions, and viewpoints,
nurturing a more tolerant and accepting society.

6. Personal Well-being and Self-Reflection: Value education emphasizes the importance of

personal well-being, self-reflection, and self-awareness. It encourages individuals to
understand their strengths, weaknesses, and values, leading to personal growth and fulfilment.

7. Environmental Consciousness: Value education emphasizes environmental sustainability

and responsibility. It promotes awareness of environmental issues and encourages individuals
to adopt eco-friendly practices and contribute to the preservation of the planet.
SELF EXPLORATION

Self-exploration is indeed an integral part of value education. It involves deep introspection

and reflection to understand one's own values, beliefs, strengths, weaknesses, and aspirations.
Self-exploration allows individuals to gain clarity about their own identity and the principles
they hold.

Self-exploration as a process for value education enables individuals to develop a strong sense
of self, ethical awareness, and the ability to make choices that reflect their values. By
understanding themselves better, individuals can cultivate virtues, make positive contributions
to society, and lead a meaningful life based on their own unique set of principles.

Nature of self-exploration

1. It is a process of dialogue – between me and you, to begin with. It soon becomes a dialogue
within your own self.

2. It is a process of dialog between what I am and my Natural Acceptance or what I really want
to be.

3. It is a process of Self-exploration, Self-investigation Self-evaluation.

4. It is a process of knowing oneself and through the self, knowing Nature and the entire
existence.

5. It is a process of recognizing one's relationship with every unit in nature/existence; and

fulfilling that relationship.

6. It is a process of knowing Human Conduct and living according to it.

7. It is a process of living in harmony in oneself, living in harmony with others…living in

harmony with entire existence.

PROCESS OF SELF EXPLORATION

 Being a keen observer

 Focusing on strong emotions
 Chasing strong emotions
 Identifying core values and beliefs
 Knowing line of demarcation and responsibility
Purpose of self-exploration

• It is a process of dialogue between “what you are” and “what you really want to be”

• It is a process of self-evaluation through self-Investigation

• Process of knowing oneself and through that understanding entire existence.

• Process of recognizing relationship with every unit in existence.

• Process of knowing human conduct, human character & living accordingly.

• Process of being in harmony with oneself and with entire existence.

• Process of knowing innateness, & moving towards self-organization & self-expression.

Mechanism of self-exploration

1. NATURAL ACCEPTANCE

Natural acceptance implies unconditional and total acceptance of the self, people and
environment.

It also refers to the absence of any exception from others.

Once we fully and truly commit ourselves on the basis of natural acceptance, we feel a holisti c
sense of inner harmony, tranquillity and fulfilment.

2. EXPERIENTIAL VALIDATION

Experiential validation is a process that infuses direct experience with the learning environment
and content.

It may be regarded as a philosophy and methodology in which the direct experience and
focused reflection of the individual helps to increase knowledge, develop skill and clarify
values.

Self-exploration takes place in the self and not the body.

Natural Acceptance Experiential Validation

Given independent choice, what is Under the given circumstances, what one
acceptable naturally ends up accepting
Natural Acceptance Peer pressure, conditioning Sensation
Acceptance
E.g. Relationship E.g. Sometimes relationship
Food for health Sometimes food for health,
Mobile for communication sometimes food for taste
Sometimes for communication,
sometimes for respect, show-off

Here's how self-exploration contributes to value education:

 Awareness of Personal Values:

Self-exploration helps individuals identify and understand their personal values.
 By reflecting on their experiences, beliefs, and priorities, individuals can gain clarity
about what matters most to them.
This awareness enables them to align their actions and choices with their core values.

 Reflection on Ethical Dilemmas:

Engaging in self-exploration encourages individuals to reflect on ethical dilemmas and
moral challenges they encounter.
By examining different perspectives and considering the consequences of their
decisions, individuals can develop their own ethical framework and make principled
choices.

 Recognition of Strengths and Weaknesses:

Self-exploration involves an honest assessment of one's strengths and weaknesses.
This process helps individuals understand their areas of improvement and work towards
personal growth.
By acknowledging their weaknesses, individuals can strive to cultivate virtues and
qualities that align with their values.

 Developing Emotional Intelligence:

Self-exploration fosters emotional intelligence by encouraging individuals to recognize
and manage their emotions effectively.
It involves understanding one's emotional triggers, developing empathy for others, and
cultivating healthy relationships based on respect and compassion.

 Setting Personal Goals:

Through self-exploration, individuals can identify their aspirations and set meaningful
goals aligned with their values.
By understanding their passions and interests, individuals can pursue paths that bring
them fulfilment and contribute to their personal growth and well-being.

 Cultivating Self-Reflection and Mindfulness:

Self-exploration promotes self-reflection and mindfulness as ongoing practices.
Regular introspection helps individuals assess their thoughts, actions, and behaviors,
allowing them to make conscious choices that align with their values.
 Mindfulness also enhances self-awareness and the ability to live in the present moment.

 Building a Personal Code of Conduct:

Through self-exploration, individuals can establish their own personal code of conduct.
This code serves as a guiding framework that aligns with their values and helps navigate
various situations and challenges with integrity and ethical decision-making.

Basic Human Aspirations

Human aspirations are the hopes, dreams, and goals that people have for their lives. They are
often driven by a person’s values and desires. They are often broad and future focused. They
can be concrete and achievable or harder to measure.

Exp. Being successful in career, having a strong relationship, traveling the world, being a good
parent, becoming famous, achieving emotional fulfilment & financial stability, finding a sense
of purpose.

There are two basic aspirations of every human being. Continuous happiness and prosperity.
These are the bases of all our desires and the efforts that go towards achieving these. The correct
meaning of these two terms are given below.

 Happiness

Happiness is a fundamental human aspiration.

People seek happiness in different aspects of life, including personal relationships,

accomplishments, meaningful work, physical and mental health, and a sense of purpose and
meaning.

Achieving happiness often involves cultivating positive emotions, nurturing healthy

relationships, pursuing personal interests, practicing gratitude, and finding balance in various
areas of life.

It’s a process of assemble circumstances which make a person feel happy. There is a set of state
of mind which we are able to accept naturally. Such as trust, respect, loyalty being confident
about your future etc. It is a continuous process and these feeling always continue is ourselves.
We find these, that are the situations when we are in harmony and these feeling are a replication
of that harmony. For an example- respect is a state of harmony between two human beings.
When I respect the others and the others respect me, I like to be in that situation. It gives me
happiness. When I observe myself I have harmony in my thought, my feelings I feel relaxed,
happy. If this harmony disturbed, I feel uneasy.

i) So the state of happiness is: -the state/situation in which I live if there is

coherence/collaboration in it then I like to be in that state or situation.
ii) To be in a state of liking is happiness.

On the other hand when we experience feeling such as failure, disrespect, lack of
confidence, being doubtful in ourselves or about other, we feel unhappy as they are states
of conflict. These are the states when there is lack of harmony either within us, or between
us and others.

So the state of unhappiness is:-

1. The state/situation in which I live, if there is conflict/contradiction in it then I do not like

to be in that state or situation.

2. To be in a state of disliking is unhappiness. We can define happiness and unhappiness

as:-

A) To be in a state of harmony is happiness.

b) To be in a state of disharmony is unhappiness.

 Prosperity

Prosperity typically refers to a state of thriving, abundance, and success.

It involves not only material wealth but also overall well-being, including physical,
emotional, and spiritual aspects.

Prosperity encompasses financial stability, access to resources, opportunities for growth

and development, and a high quality of life.

It also involves personal fulfillment, achieving goals, making a positive impact, and
contributing to society.
 The material things or what we say physical facilities is related to prosperity. It is
conception that to acquire more physical facilities are prosperity. To know what prosperity
is two things are essential.

a) Correct assessment of need for physical facilities.

b) The competence of making available more than required physical facilities.

One thing can be clearly stated that we can prosperous only if there is a limit to the physical
facilities. If there is no limit what so ever be the availability in us. The feeling of prosperity
can’t be assured.

Secondly just assessing the need is not enough. We need to be able to produce or make
available more than the need. Suppose, a person has a lot of money, but does not want to
share even a bit of it. The person has wealth but feels deprived similarly a person who not
have a lot of wealth may welcomes you and ask you to stay back for a few days and help
you out. This is an indication of feeling prosperity. So, Wealth is a physical thing. It means
having money or having a lot of physical facilities or both. Prosperity is a feeling of having
more than required physical facilities. It is not just physical facilities.

It is the misconception in the society that only accumulate physical facilities are prosperity.
But we need to understand it clearly. The basic requirements for fulfilling the aspirations
are:-

 Right Understanding:-This refers to our skills – the need to learn and utilize our
intelligence effectively.

 Good Relationships:-This refers to the interpersonal relationships that a person builds at

home, at the workplace and in society.

 Physical Facilities:-This includes the physical needs of individuals and indicates the
necessities as well as the comforts of life.

It's important to note that happiness and prosperity are subjective and can vary from person to
person. What brings happiness and a sense of prosperity to one individual may differ from
another. Additionally, the pursuit of continuous happiness and prosperity is a lifelong journey
rather than a destination. It requires ongoing self-reflection, adaptation to changing
circumstances, and a balance between personal aspirations and the well-being of others.
  Other basic Human Aspirations

Survival and Security:

The most fundamental human aspiration is to ensure survival and security.

This includes having access to basic necessities such as food, shelter, clothing, and protection
from physical harm.

Individuals strive to meet their basic needs and create a safe environment for themselves and
their loved ones.

Health and Well-being:

People aspire to maintain good physical and mental health.

They seek well-being by taking care of their bodies, engaging in healthy practices, and striving
for emotional balance.

This aspiration includes living a life free from illness, pain, and suffering.

Social Connection and Belonging:

Humans are social beings and have a deep desire for social connection and belonging.

They seek relationships, love, acceptance, and a sense of community.

Building meaningful connections with others and feeling a sense of belonging are important
sources of happiness and fulfillment.

Personal Growth and Fulfillment:

Individuals aspire to grow, develop, and reach their full potential.

They seek opportunities for learning, personal and professional growth, and self-improvement.

This aspiration involves exploring one's talents, interests, and passions, and finding purpose
and fulfillment in life.

Autonomy and Freedom:

People desire autonomy and the freedom to make choices and decisions that align with their
values and desires.
This aspiration includes having control over one's own life, autonomy in decision making, and
the ability to express oneself freely

Meaning and Purpose:

Individuals aspire to find meaning and purpose in their lives.

They seek a sense of significance and a deeper understanding of their place in the world. This
aspiration often involves pursuing meaningful goals, contributing to the well-being of others,
and making a positive impact on society.

Aesthetic and Creative Expression:

Humans have a natural inclination towards appreciating and creating beauty. They seek
aesthetic experiences, engage in creative expression, and find joy in art, music, literature, and
other forms of creative outlets.

It's important to note that these aspirations are not mutually exclusive and often interrelated.
They shape individuals' motivations, decisions, and actions, and they are essential for human
growth, well-being, and a sense of fulfilment.

Basic Requirements for Fulfilment of Human Aspirations

When we try to find out if we have fulfilled our basic aspiration, it is not always so affirmative.
There is quite a gap between our basic aspiration and our state of being.

When we reflect on all the effort we are making, we can easily see that we are generally
working for accumulation of physical facility! The basic problem is that we have assumed that
‘happiness and prosperity will automatically come when we have enough physical facility’.

This is something we need to explore in our own life. Where are we putting in our effort?

If continuity of happiness and prosperity is not achieved by just accumulating physical facility
then what else is essential to do? Let’s try to find out by asking this question to ourselves:

Is the unhappiness in my family

▪ More due to lack of physical facility or

▪ More due to lack of fulfilment in relationship?

When you explore into it, you will find that the major reason for the unhappiness in the family
is the lack of fulfilment in relationship and not just the lack of physical facility.

Now to look at the investment of your effort, find out:

▪ How much time and effort you are investing for physical facility, and

▪ How much time and effort you are investing for fulfilment in relationship?

Generally, most of the time and effort is being invested for physical facility, assuming that
everything is going to be fine when there is enough physical facility, and there will be no
unhappiness in the family.

The problems are more due to lack of fulfilment in relationship, and we are investing major
part of our time and effort for physical facility.

With this discussion, the conclusion that we want to draw out of this is a very simple one:

For human being physical facility is necessary, but relationship is also necessary.

In fact, by seeing this, we can understand the difference between animals and human beings.
Physical facility is necessary for animals as well as for human beings. For animals, it is
necessary as well as adequate. But when it comes to human beings, that is not the case –
physical facility is a necessity, but physical facility alone is not going to suffice for the
fulfilment of human being.

When a human being has lack of physical facility, (s)he becomes uncomfortable and unhappy.
Once (s)he gets the physical facility, (s)he forgets about it and starts thinking about many other
things.

So, we can conclude that physical facility is necessary for animals; it is necessary for human
beings also. However:

• For animals, physical facility is necessary as well as adequate.

• For human beings, physical facility is necessary, but physical facility alone is not
adequate.
While we do have a natural acceptance to live in relationship, are we actually able to ensure
living in relationship? Have we understood this or just assumed it? To explore this further, find
out if:

1. You want to live in relationship (harmony) with others or

2. You want to live in opposition with others or

3. You believe, living has to be necessarily in opposition with others, i.e. there is 'struggle for
survival', ‘survival of the fittest’ and if you feel happy living this way?

A little introspection will show that out of these three, what is naturally acceptable is the first
one. You certainly do not want to live in opposition with others. But you may be conditioned
to think in a manner as mentioned in the third option. If we adopt the third option, it has
significant negative implications in our life, in the family and in the society. We can see this
all around today.

In relationship, what is generally happening today is something like this:

Every time when there is fight, we want to resolve it. We start the next day with the thought
that we don’t want to fight today; but a fight takes place again (sometimes by the end of the
same day).

Does this happen with you, with your brother, sister, father, mother, spouse, children, with your
friends, co-workers, etc.? Getting irritated, angry, not speaking for days, dragging each other
to court, divorces, etc. are indicators of the situation in relationship.

For ensuring fulfilment in relationship, it is necessary to have right understanding about

relationship.

From the preceding discussion, it may be concluded that for fulfilment of human being–
physical facility, relationship and right understanding – all three are necessary.

We can see that physical facility, relationship and right understanding are three distinct
realities. All three are required for fulfilment of human being. One cannot be substituted for
the other.

If we investigate into the priority among these, we can see that right understanding is the first
priority, fulfilment in relationship with human being is the second priority and ensuring
physical facility with rest of nature is the third priority.
Right Understanding, Relationship and Physical Facility

Human being wants to live with continuous happiness and prosperity and this is possible by
ensuring right understanding, fulfilment in relationship and physical facility in the correct
priority. This is living with ‘human consciousness.

On the other hand, if one is living for physical facility alone, and not ensuring right
understanding and right feeling in relationship, s(he) feels unhappy and makes others unhappy
too. This is one outcome.

The other outcome is that if the right understanding is missing, one is not able to identify the
need for physical facility. Now, if we are not able to identify our need for physical facility then
regardless of how much physical facility we accumulate, we never feel that we have enough.
We keep wanting more. This feeling of not having enough is the feeling of deprivation. As a
result, one is deprived, exploiting and depriving others.

While physical facility alone may suffice for animals, it is not adequate for human being to be
fulfilled. Under this condition, one is living with ‘animal consciousness.

There are generally two kinds of people today:

1. Those lacking physical facility, unhappy and deprived

2. Those having physical facility, and yet unhappy and deprived Try to find out where you are
– at 1 or at 2?

Whereas we really want to be is in the following state, i.e.

3. Having physical facility, happy and prosperous.

It is easy to see that we naturally want to be in the state 3, of having more than required physical
facility, happy and prosperous. However, today we seem to be at 1 or 2 and our effort is
generally for 2. You can see that what is called development today largely takes us from ‘1’ to
‘2’.

Now, if we are able to ensure all three, i.e. right understanding, relationship and physical
facility, in that order of priority, let us see the outcome (refer to fig. 3-5).

• Through right feeling in relationship, based on right understanding, we can ensure mutual
happiness – happiness for ourselves as well as happiness for others.

• With right understanding, we can identify the need for physical facility. We can also learn
how to produce using a mutually enriching production process. Once we are able to ensure the
availability of more than required physical facility, we have a feeling of prosperity; isn’t it?

Development of Human Consciousness

We can clearly envisage holistic development as the transformation of consciousness –to

human consciousness. Of course, it will necessitate working on all three – right understanding,
fulfilment in relationship as well as physical facility; and in that order of priority.
Role of Education-Sanskar (Enabling the Transformation to Human Consciousness)

The role of education is essentially to facilitate holistic development, i.e. the individual
transformation to human consciousness as well as the societal transformation to a humane
society. For this, the education-sanskar has to ensure:

1. Right understanding in every child,

2. The capacity to live in relationship with other human beings, and

3. The capacity to identify the need for physical facility, the skills and practice for sustainable
production of more than what is required, leading to the feeling of prosperity.

Education is developing the right understanding (holistic perspective).

Sanskar is the commitment, preparation and practice of living with right understanding. The
preparation includes learning appropriate skills and technology.